Comments on January 2007
This was the 2nd warmest January on record since 1850; only 1916 has been milder. It is interesting to note the top ten warmest Januaries on record: unusually, there is a great spread of dates without any concentration of recent years.

Not surprisingly, given some record-breaking months in 2006, the 12-month average has risen above 10°C once again, for the first time since January 2005. Indeed, the average for the last 12 months (10.15°C) is equal highest with the 12-month period ending in February 2004, thus the warmest ‘year’ in Durham’s history. Of 1874 12-month periods since 1852, only 9 have exceeded 10°C, all since 2002.

Rainfall was just below average, but sunshine was well above: it was the sunniest January since records began in 1882, beating 1959 by 0.1 hour! There were twelve ground frosts, mainly in the latter part of the month, with a similar pattern for the six air frosts.

Very notable was the windiness of the middle part of the month. It was the third windiest January since 1953 (when my available record starts), beaten only by 1974 and 1975. There was a gust of 100 kph (62.5 mph) on the 10th.